| Title | Design, optimization and calibration of an automated density gauge for firn and ice cores |
| Author | Breton, D.J.; Hamilton, G.S.; Hess, C.T. |
| Author Affil | Breton, D.J., University of Maine, Climate Change Institute, Orono, ME |
| Source | Journal of Glaciology, 55(194), p.1092- 1100, . Publisher: International Glaciological Society, Cambridge, United Kingdom. ISSN: 0022-1430 |
| Publication Date | 2009 |
| Notes | In English. 15 refs. Ant. Acc. No: 88388. GeoRef Acc. No: 299909 |
| Index Terms | density (mass/volume); design; experimentation; firn; instruments; measuring instruments; measurement; Antarctica-- Antarctic ice sheet; Antarctic ice sheet; Antarctica; calibration; density; experimental studies; gamma-ray methods; ice cores; laboratory studies; optimization; Titan Dome; uncertainty |
| Abstract | A gamma-ray density gauge can provide high- resolution and high-precision density measurements of firn and ice cores. This study describes the design, gamma-ray energy optimization and mass attenuation coefficient calibration of the Maine Automated Density Gauge Experiment (MADGE), a portable, field- operable gamma-ray density gauge used on overland traverses in East Antarctica. The MADGE instrument uses a 241Am gamma-ray source, a pulse-mode counting system and electronic core diameter calipers to collect high-precision density data from 3-8 cm diameter firn and ice cores. The data are collected at a 3.3mm spatial resolution and an average throughput of 1.5mh-1 for 5 cm diameter cores. |
| URL | http://www.igsoc.org/journal/55/194/t09J008.pdf |
| Publication Type | journal article |
| Record ID | 64004579 |